Ford County Emergency Management Agency Director Dennis Higgins said three tanker cars derailed but no ethanol spilled or leaked. Traffic on a 1-mile stretch of Illinois 9 was diverted around the scene of the derailment, near the One Earth Energy ethanol plant. Higgins said there was no injuries were reported but emergency workers evacuated nearby businesses as a precaution.

The train cars remained upright but dug into the ground after spur track, near the ethanol plant, broke. Illinois 9 should be reopened by this (Friday) morning. A work crew from the St. Louis area was called to upright the derailed tank cars.